Projectile and gun therefore.



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PROJECTILE AND GUN THEREFOR.

APPLICATlON FILED S'EPT. 8, 19H5. 1,246,726. rammed Nov. 1-3, 1917.

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B. DAWKINS.

PRolEclLE AND GUN THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8, 1916.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

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BILLTON DAWKINS, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PROJECTILE AND GUN THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 191 '7.

Application filed September 8, 1916. Serial No. 119,068.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BILLToN DAWKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State f of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Projectiles and Guns Therefor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suoli as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in ordnance, and has for its primary object to provide an improved projectile carrying a pair of converged cutting blades designed to cut or destroy wire entanglements or other objects in the zone of the path of the projectile.

Another object is the provision of an improved type of gun primarily designed for firing the improved projectile and embodying means for supporting the blades in position prior to the discharge of the projectile from the gun.

With these and other objects in view, the invention. consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan thereof,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the projectile, partly in section, showing a fragment of the shank,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the breech of the gun,

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of the pivoted locking member removed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates a projectile which is mounted in a shell 6 provided with a percussion cap 7, whereby the charge o f explosive material contained in the shell 1s ignited to fire the projectile 5. The forward extremity of the projectile body 5 1s formed with an axial recess 8 adapted to receive the enlarged tapered head 9, carried by a shank or stem 10, which latter is formed withan enlarged and flattened forward extremity.

A pair of oppositely inclined blades 11, having their forward portions beveled to present cutting edges 12 are rigidly secured at their converged forward ends by rivets, or equivalent means, 13 to the enlarged forward extremity of the stem 10. At a point adjacent the connection of .the two blades 12, a supporting strap, having a curved central portion 14 and alined ends 15, is secured thereto, whereby the forward ends of the blades are supported in position adjacent the mouth of a cannon.

The gun which is used for firing the im proved projectile includes the barrel 17, having a pair of supporting arms pivotally secured at 19 adjacent the breech. The arms are adapted, when the gun is in use, to be swung outwardly to horizontal position to support the rear extremities of the blades 11 while the gun is being aimed. 'Vhen not in use, the arms 18 may be folded upwardly above the gun to facilitate transportation, which is further facilitated by the supporting wheels 20.

The breech of the gun is formed with an external flange 21, against which is movable the hinged breech block 22, provided with an external flange 23, adapted to abut the flange 21. A channel locking ring, including a pair of substantially semicircular sections 24 pivotally secured at 25 to the flange 21, are adapted to be swung over the flanges 21 and 23 of the gun barrel and breech block when the latter is closed to lock the breech block in closed position. A substantially U-shaped locking member 26 is pivotally secured to one section 24 at 27 and is provided with angular recessed free ends adapted to engage lugs 27a on the other section, to lock the sections together, and, when swung apart, the sections are locked in eX tended or inoperative position by a pivoted hook 28, adapted to engage in an eye bolt or loop 29 secured to the opposed ring section.

In operation, the projectile 5 is inserted in the breech of the n barrel 17 and the breech block 22 is suequently closed and locked by the sectional ring 24. The supporting strapv 14 is slidably mounted upon the gun barrel 17 adjacent the mouth thereof, and the rear extremities of the cutting blades 11 are slidably mounted upon the supporting arms 18, and the blades and Shanks 10 are moved rearwardly until the tapered head 19 of the shank is firmly engaged in the recess 8 in the forward extremity of the projectile 5, and thus when f the guir-is fired the cutting blades ll are carried forwardly of the projectile, having an extremely destructive effect upon the objects with which the blades come into contact.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a gun including a barrel, a pair of arms pivotally secured to said barrel and movable to horizontal position, a projectile mounted in the bore of said gun, a stem detachably secured to said projectile and projecting forwardly of the mouth of the barrel of said gui'i, a pair of rearwardly divcrging cutliiig blades carried by said stem and slidably engaged at their rear ends with said pivoted arms.

2. In combination, a gun includinga barrel, a pair of piroted arms carried by the rear end of said barrel and movable to l1ori Zontal position, a projectile mounted in tlic bore of said gun, a stein detachably engaged with said projectile, a pair of rearwardly diverging cutting blades carried by the for ward extremity of said stem and slidably engaged in their rear extremities with said arms, and a supporting strap connecting the medial portions Of said cutting blades and slidably engaged on the barrel of said gun.

A projectile including a body having an axial recess, a pair of forwardly converging blades having the forward portions beveled to present cutting edges, a shank secured to the converged ends of said blades and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a strap connecting the forward portions of said blades and having the medial portion curved for engagement with a gun barrel.

4. In combination, a gun including a barrel, a projectile positioned in the bore of said barrel, a stem detachably connected with said projectile, a pair of forwardly converging blades connected with the forward extremity of said stem, means for supporting the forward ends of said blades upon the barrel, and means carried by the gun barrel supporting the rear extremities of said blades.

5. ln coi'nbination, a gun includinof a barrel, a projectile positioned in the Ibore of said barrel, a pair of arms pivotally Secured to .said barrel and movable to a lioriZontal position, means for supporting said arms in horizontal position, a stem detachal'ily secured to said projectile, and a pair of rear \\'ardl'\ f diverging cutting blades carried by said siem and slid-ably supported upon said arms.

o. .ln combination, a gun including a barrel, a projectile positioned in the bore of the barrel, a siem dciachably secured to said projectile and projecting forwardly of the mouth of the barrel of the gun, cutting blades carried by said stem, a strap Connecting the forward portions of said blades and engaging the barrel for supporting the forward extremities of the blades, and means carried by the gun barrel supporting the rear extremities of the blades.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BILLTON DAWKINS.

Witnesses NELLIE BINGA, WILLIAM Born.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. U. 

